Problems with the Zimmer Persona knee replacement could leave patients suffering from unexpected complications.

The Zimmer Persona knee implant reinforces a person’s knee joint to relieve pain and disability. Knee implants can help relieve pain caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, trauma, and other problems. The Zimmer Persona implant has peg components that “grow” into the bone, helping to stabilize the device. Knee replacements are one of the more common surgical procedures for U.S. patients.

Unfortunately, the Zimmer Persona implant—one of the more popular options—includes a tibial plate component that was voluntarily recalled by the company in February 2015. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a Class II recall of the component in March 2015.

Zimmer Persona Knee Implant Recall

The Zimmer Persona knee implant recall came after a slew of complaints came in with reports of several complications, including device loosening. Patients also reported that X-rays showed gaps between their implant and their bone, which may indicate that the device is out of place. Because of these reports, Zimmer issued a recall in February 2015.

The FDA announced this Zimmer Persona knee implant recall in March 2015, affecting a total of around 12,000 implants already distributed across the country.

The FDA considers this a Class 2 recall, which means that it can cause temporary or reversible injury. For comparison, a Class 1 recall would indicate that a device can cause permanent injury or even death. All sizes of the Zimmer Persona tibial plate component are linked with these problems, and are thus all included in this recall.

Failure of the Zimmer Persona knee implant is linked with several complications, including:

• Persistent pain
• Loss of mobility
• Inflammation
• Knee instability
• Knee tightness

According to Zimmer, around 38 percent of patients who sent complaints about the Zimmer Persona knee implant either reported gaps between the bone and device or underwent revision surgery due to device failure. Indeed, patients who experience complications from this device often need to undergo revision surgery to solve the problem. The need for revision surgery can be brought on by several problems, including device loosening, fracture, instability, and persistent pain.

Of course, going through revision surgery can expose a patient to further serious risk, including infection, fractures, blood clots, bone loss, device failure, damage to nerves, tissue, or blood vessels, as well as substantial medical costs.

Zimmer Persona Knee Implant Lawsuits

If you or someone you love has suffered from complications like device loosening or failure due to issues with the Zimmer Persona knee implant, you may be able to file a Zimmer Persona lawsuit or join a class action lawsuit.

While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by knee implant complications, it can help to compensate for the financial burden brought on by medical expenses and lost wages.